Engstligenalp

The Engstligenalp is the largest plateau of the western Swiss Alps. It is located south of Adelboden at 1900 - 2000 m above sea level. M. Since 1996, she is one of the cultural landscapes of national importance and since 2003 on the alluvial areas of national importance. It performs an aerial cableway to the Engstligenalp.

Location

In the north it is bounded by the Fitzer, connect the west by the Ammertenspitz and southwest by the dominant wild commotion, to which in an easterly direction Steghorn, animal macaroni, Chindbettihorn, Engstligengrat and Tschingellochtighorn. In the northeast of Ärtelengrat forms the border to Alp Hinterengstligen.

The valley is an oval, the north- south 1 km, east-west stretching 2 km. It consists of a flat alpine meadow, which is crossed by numerous mountain streams that originate on the slopes and Talrändern. At the end of the valley they gather and plunge almost 400 meters deep on the two stages of the projected nature Engstligen into Engstligental, where they form the Engstlige.

From the north, there is access by a blasted into the rock by the mule trail along approximately 600 m high rock walls beside the Engstligen.

The north leads the Chindbettipass west of Chindbettihorns via Ueschinental to Kandersteg and via Red Chumme and Gemmipass to Leukerbad in the Valais. To the west of Ämmertenpass between wild hustle and Ämmertenspitz leads to Lenk in the Simmental. Both passports are now used only by hikers.

History

Since the late Middle Ages, the Engstligenalp is used as an alpine meadow. First mentioned it 1232 when Werner von Ritter Kien the bishop of Sion, Landric de Montreal, the Alp Itenscigulam ceded. 1373 makes Rudolf grissie ( semolina ) the bishop of Sion, Edward of Savoy - Achaia, fealty for " a certain Alp, called Enchiglin across the water Enchigle, with four Stafeln ( alpine cheese dairies ) ." Later Hensilinus, Egidius and Cuni Grisch ( semolina ) can be mentioned as a fief holders. Cuni Grieschen leaves the Entschligberg 1494 the treasurer Anthoni Archer of Bern. 1514 lends Cardinal Matthäus Schiner the Ludwig Brüggler the Entschliglehen. 1630 fell to the fief of Albert Wattenwyl and remained until 1817 owned by the family. 1657 to have been summering on the alp 536 cows.

Today Alpwirtschaft

Today the Engstligenalp is in possession of a Alpgenossenschaft of about 100 farmers from Frutigen and some of Adelboden. It offers on 700 ha of pasture land for about 10 weeks from late June to mid-September for 500 head of cattle (each about one-third of cows, cattle and calves) to race Simmental pasture and free run ( because of frequent night frosts is the Tagweidegang in the foreground).

From the milk of cows by hand Bernese mountain cheese (after two years of storage and sliced ​​cheese ) were prepared. The annual production is about 3500 kg for the whole Alpine, is sold almost exclusively privately or in Adelboden. Particularly spectacular is each of the procession up in June, when 350 cows and cattle up on the mule track through the rock wall at the Engstligen pull to Alp.

Tourism

The Engstligenalp is availed touristy. In summer it offers various mountain trails to a barrier-free wheelchair-accessible trail (about 5 km), which makes it possible together with appropriate facilities in the two guest houses and people with disabilities to enjoy an unspoilt Alpine landscape.

The Engstligenalp is the starting point for ski touring and mountaineering, for example, the wild bustle and the Steghorn or Tschingellochtighorn, the Adelboden climbing mountain.

In winter there are two snow-covered cross-country tracks and winter hiking trails in the valley, two baby lifts and several ski lifts on the north slope, easy to make difficult descents. An area is provided specifically for freeride. In addition, there are ways various levels of difficulty for touring riders.